Returning to My Sketchbook Practice, Allowing Grief and Slowing Down

[@turkworks1]

Thank you Anne.. I always look forward to your emails and today, in this New Year I am struggling. So watching this video helped me reconnect with myself. I lost my husband of 30 years in 2022 and, of course, life has been upside down. He always loved my creativity and I believe this video has helped open my heart back up to get on with my art. Thank you.

[@AnneButera]

Hi, Mary. I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling. Please be gentle with yourself. Take your time, slow down and pay attention to all the beauties and joys around you. I know it's not easy to come back to yourself after struggles and loss and remember that you are meant to be creative and share your own unique gifts.💚

[@gayleyip6689]

I am sorry for your loss. Our pets are so important to us. Thanks for sharing the importance to play and get back into what we love.

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Gayle. ❤

[@aletajacobson5609]

Dear Anne, I'm so sorry you lost your kitty. I'm sending deepest sympathy. I know what it's like and I hope you can remember the best of times you had with that sweet kitty.💛

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Aleta. Going through my videos to see how often he showed up (and looking through all the photos of him) reminded me how much joy he brought to my life. I'll never lose that. 💛

[@DanaBarbieri]

Oh Anne, I'm so sorry to hear about Quinn. I'm glad you're taking good care of yourself. It's great that your sketchbook is helping you process things. ❤❤❤

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Dana. ❤

[@AnneButera]

I forgot to say that the little watercolor painting you sent me inspired some of the creative play I did in my sketchbooks. It felt so good! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@DanaBarbieri]

❤❤

[@kathleencatts6236]

I'm so sorry about your losing Quin. They are never with us long enough and their absence is profound. Thank you for sharing him with us. Be gentle with yourself during this time of grief and these short days.

[@AnneButera]

Thank you so much, Kathleen. ❤

[@millygit]

Hi Anne, so sorry to hear your loss. I too have been struggling with sketchbooking this year, a year filled with elderly parent issues, I was unable to settle to any creativity due to feeling overwhelmed but I stumbled upon Lorene Edwards Forkners book, Color in and out of the garden, not sure if you have seen it but is a beautiful book, I was inspired by Lorene’s idea of a daily swatching session of finding nine Color’s in a flower, leaf or shell……..truly looking, being present in the moment and seeing the Color’s was a game changer for me, no expectation just to sit for a few minutes and paint the Color’s I could see on the shell, leaf etc and try and mix those Color’s form my watercolor palette, they turned out like mini works of art. Thought maybe you might like that gentle way of getting back to creating. Blessings from Australia

[@AnneButera]

Hi, Michelle! Thanks so much for your kind words. I love Lorene's work. I like to share the book and her practice with my students. It's such a simple, approachable way to be creative (and play with paint). Blessings to you!

[@LauraWatsonArt]

I'm so sorry about your cat Anne. I lost one of my cats recently too, Kingsley. I had him for 17 years, he went to kitty heaven a few days after my son was born in October. Sending you and your family my co condolences ❤❤❤❤

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Laura. It's so hard, isn't it. I'm sorry to hear about your kitty, too. Sending love your way. ❤

[@coreyduboislinda9]

Love It.

[@AnneButera]

Thank you!!

[@SimoneWhippArtist]

Oh Ann. I am so sad about Quinn. He was a lovely boy. I hope you have some nice things to focus on to help you heal. I am glad you are back playing in your sketchbooks. Your snow looks beautiful - we have had nothing but grey, damp miserable days here in the UK. It is hard to be creative sometimes but things seem so much better when we are.

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Simone. He was such a great cat. Our snow is mostly melted now and today's temps are supposed to almost reach 50 degrees F! I'm so grateful we've had a lot of sunny days, too. I feel so much better when the sun is shining. I hope you'll have some sunshine soon, too!

[@SimoneWhippArtist]

@@AnneButera Sorry I left the 'e' off of Anne! 😊

[@AnneButera]

@@SimoneWhippArtist No worries! There was a time that I got mad about a missing "E" (just ask Matthias!), but I figured it was just a typo! 😂

[@AnneButera]

@@SimoneWhippArtist No worries! There was a time that I got mad about a missing "E" (just ask Matthias!), but I figured it was just a typo! 😂

[@SimoneWhippArtist]

@@AnneButera 😂

[@louloufabrique]

❤

[@Purpleladybirdart]

Hi Anne, thank you for this heartfelt video, an authentic, honest commentary on the struggles we all feel from time to time. I’m so sorry you have lost Quinn, such a wrench at this time of year especially. I lost my enthusiasm for anything art related a few weeks ago, but I am letting go of putting pressure on myself to create. I am just trying to enjoy the season and maybe in the new year I will approach my art and my sketchbooks with a fresh pair of eyes and a spark for creating again. Sometimes it’s good to take a break and not force it. I love the birds and enjoy my daily routine of feeding them and refreshing their water, they bring me so much joy at this time of the year. I look forward to more skillshare classes from you and wonder if you could give us some tips on how to just let go and play in our sketchbooks, what art materials do you use? 🙏💜

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Clare. I'm so glad you're not putting pressure on yourself. We need to take breaks, even if it's hard to step away for a while. Thanks for the class ideas. Hope to share all of these things in the future. 💜

[@Purpleladybirdart]

@@AnneButera 🙏

[@marilynheneghan9221]

I am so sorry to hear about the lose of your kitty. I was so empty when we lost Callie and I was so lonely when we were moving. My thoughts are with you.❤

[@AnneButera]

Thank you, Marilyn. ❤

[@Rshettrevoice]

I am deeply sorry for your loss,your companion furry friend.

[@AnneButera]

Thank you so much. 💚